The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMpS) have announced the creation of a new organisation in a bid to provide “a stronger, unified voice” for their members called ‘Pharmacy Voice’
“We have taken this bold step so that we can represent community pharmacy more effectively,” said NPA chairman Ian Facer, who was unanimously appointed chairman of Pharmacy Voice at its inaugural board meeting, held last week in London.
Rob Darracott the Chief Executive of Pharmacy Voice (and CEO of CCA) explained why he believed that the formation of such a group was necessary. “As the NHS in England is entering a time of unprecedented change it is particularly critical for Pharmacy Voice to strongly influence the policy and commissioning agenda now” he said
The PDA accepts that this entity will produce a formidable lobbying group which will be out to protect the interests of its members – the owners of pharmacies, many of whom may not not be pharmacists and do not always promulgate agendas solely in the best interests of the profession.
John Murphy, General Secretary gave the PDA Union’s reaction to the news.
“The main employer organisations have pooled their considerable resources to further strengthen their stranglehold on the pharmacy profession” he remarked. “Their statements indicate that they have done this for the benefit of pharmacy. However, inevitably there will be a concern amongst pharmacists that they are merely protecting their own commercial interests, which may not necessarily always satisfy the broader aspirations of the profession. It further demonstrates our contention that there needs to be a counterbalance view to ensure that the profession is led by what is best for effective patient pharmaceutical care rather than by what is best for owners and shareholders”
“The only way to ensure that the individual pharmacists’ agenda is not misrepresented or swamped by the strength of the large employers is to join a strong effective union” he concluded.